20231004 - Village Council Regular Public Workshop Minutes

A REGULAR PUBLIC WORK SESSION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF RIDGEWOOD HELD IN THE SYDNEY V. STOLDT, JR. COURT ROOM OF THE RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE HALL, 131 NORTH MAPLE AVENUE, RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ON OCTOBER 4, 2023 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER – OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT – ROLL CALL – FLAG SALUTE

 

Mayor Vagianos called the meeting to order at 7:39 p.m. and read the Statement of Compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act. At roll call the following were present: Councilmembers Perron, Reynolds, Weitz, Winograd, and Mayor Vagianos. Also present were: Keith Kazmark, Village Manager; Eileen Young, Deputy Village Clerk; and Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney.

 

Mayor Vagianos led those in attendance in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. Mayor Vagianos announced that yesterday, Ridgewood lost one of its children, Preston Walker Stott, an 18-year-old boy who just graduated from high school and started college. He attended Somerville Elementary School and Ridgewood High School. He played football and will be missed by his family and friends. Mayor Vagianos encouraged everyone to hug their loved ones this evening when they get home and tell them how much they are unconditionally loved. He asked for a moment of silence in Preston’s honor.

 

2.         COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Paul Woodburn, 66 North Irving Street, said that this is the third week in a row he has made public comments before the Village Council, urging them not to make the same mistakes with the Schedler property that were made at Stevens Field. Mr. Woodburn lives right behind Stevens Field, which constantly floods because of the small footbridge that turns into a “beaver dam” every time it rains a lot. He said that this has been occurring for 10 years. Mr. Woodburn spoke on this topic before the prior Village Council and has spoken to Mr. Fishbein, former Superintendent of Ridgewood Public Schools. Mr. Fishbein informed Mr. Woodburn that he could not raise the bridge, because otherwise his janitors would not be able to drive their “golf carts” over the bridge to clean up the fields. Mr. Woodburn said that, in order to alleviate the flooding, the footbridge either needs to be raised up or removed completely.

 

Mr. Woodburn emphasized that during a heavy rain, branches and debris get clogged up behind the footbridge. This causes the water from the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook to flow onto both Stevens Field and the Ridgewood High School football field, and also onto North Irving Street. He said that he wonders why no one seems to be listening to him. Mr. Woodburn said that this problem needs to be fixed immediately. Otherwise, neighbors’ homes will begin to get flooded and property, including cars, will be destroyed. During the last storm event, the streets were flooded and the water was inching very close to his home. Mr. Woodburn said that high school students can walk around to get to school, and they don’t need the bridge to cross over. Mr. Woodburn graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1975 and the bridge is now very old.

 

Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Kazmark if an answer could be obtained for Mr. Woodburn in response to his questions. Mayor Vagianos stated that he and Councilmember Winograd will provide such a response at the end of public comments.

 

Ellie Gruber, 229 South Irving Street, said that she wanted to tell the parents of all young soccer players in Ridgewood that the delay in the development of the Schedler property has nothing to do whatsoever with the Schedler neighbors. Ms. Gruber stated that the delay is due to the actions of the previous Village Council, the current Village Council, and a “runaway” Engineering Department. The agreed-upon 2017 plans, which called for a mid-sized field, preservation of the house, walking paths, minimal parking and trees, were thrown out and other plans were developed. Ms. Gruber predicted that it will take at least another two or three years before everything gets “sorted out.” If the original plans had been approved, the mid-sized field would have already been constructed and the young soccer players would be playing on the field at this time. Delays occurred due to ridiculous demands from sports groups in the Village and Village Council candidates giving false promises to voters. Ms. Gruber said that there are other fields locally on which adult athletes in Ridgewood can play. She said that there are other towns that would love to rent out their fields.

 

Anne Loving, 341 South Irving Street, said that per a letter she sent to all of the Village Councilmembers in August of this year, she would like to see the Village return to its past practice of using the evergreen tree in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square as its official Christmas tree for Downtown for the Holidays and throughout the holiday season. She said that using the tree in the park as a Christmas tree would eliminate the need to cut down a perfectly healthy tree each year for this purpose. Ms. Loving said that the tree in Memorial Park was planted a few years ago for this express purpose. The tree’s location in the park makes more sense for the nighttime celebration, with benches provided and no vehicular traffic. In addition, the Santa Claus House is located near this tree, as well as the Menorah, during the holiday season. Ms. Loving said that the dangerous intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street is not safe, except when the area is closed off to traffic during “Downtown for the Holidays.”

 

Ms. Loving said that an online petition was signed by several hundred residents a few years ago, signaling their approval for the Christmas tree to be located in the park. She said that there is a lot of room in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square for a stage, performances, vendors and bands. Ms. Loving acknowledged that the plan to decorate the tree in the park for Christmas has some flaws. She said that the tree in the park has had to compete for light and space over the years, so it is not symmetrical. In addition, some people prefer the tree to be at the top of East Ridgewood Avenue, by the train station, because it is visible from both sides of the railroad tracks. Ms. Loving said that a new tree could be planted at the intersection of East Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street, where the cut-down tree is usually placed. Since the “green space” at that location is small, Ms. Loving suggested that perhaps a few parking spaces in that area could be eliminated and filled in with dirt and grass. A tree could then be planted there and wouldn’t be blocked by taller trees. It would grow symmetrically and eliminate the need for a perfectly healthy tree to be chopped down every year. Ms. Loving offered to personally spearhead a campaign to solicit donations to accomplish this goal.

 

Cynthia O’Keefe, 542 West Saddle River Road, expressed condolences to the family that lost their young son this week. She stated that all residents in the Village should care for each other, adults and children alike. Ms. O’Keefe said that at the September 27, 2023 Village Council meeting, there was some “bashing” going on, and the Schedler neighbors were called “blowhards” and “terrible people.” She acknowledged that some Village Councilmembers reprimanded the speaker who made those comments. She reminded everyone attending a Village Council meeting, whether in person or via hybrid access, that “nice matters,” regardless of differing opinions. A healthy discussion with different viewpoints is fine, but it is not all right when the discussion contains cruel and unkind remarks. She said this type of behavior is “beneath” Ridgewood residents. Ms. O’Keefe said that the Schedler neighbors are not blowhards, but merely residents who are passionate about their neighborhood.

 

Ms. O’Keefe said that she dialed into the recent Fields Committee meeting, and there was ongoing discussion about installing an artificial turf field at the Schedler property. She said that she recently spoke to a mother of five children, who expressed her hesitancy to allow her children to play on a turf field, while also expressing how important it was for her children to play outside, rather than on electronic devices. This mother stated that she always has to dust off fake grass particles and crumb rubber from her children’s clothes when they come home, after playing on an artificial turf field. After learning more about the dangers of artificial turf, this mother is now worried about the contamination and PFAS to which her children are being exposed. Ms. O’Keefe asked the Village Councilmembers to take into account the toxicity and heat elements of artificial turf. She used to live in Hoboken near Stevens Institute of Technology, and she suggested that perhaps some creative solutions for alternative surfaces could be generated by some of the students attending that school or professors teaching at the school.

 

Boyd A. Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said that he noted an item on this evening’s agenda dealing with Ridgewood Water hiring a firm to construct a temporary pedestrian bridge near Russell Avenue in Wyckoff. Mr. Loving wondered if Bergen County has many of these temporary bridges at their disposal, which would help to alleviate the problems with the Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge, until the repairs to that bridge could be performed. He expressed the hope that one of the Village Councilmembers raises this possibility while discussing the temporary pedestrian bridge on Russell Avenue this evening.

 

Jacqueline Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, stated that she wanted to speak about an item on this evening’s agenda dealing with the recission and replacement of Resolution #23-149 (awarding contract for Cultural Resource Management and Historic Preservation Specialist). Ms. Hone said that Peter Primavera, historical consultant, submitted business documents to the Village, which were riddled with errors. She stated that Mr. Primavera submitted an Employee Identification Number (EIN), which did not belong to him, or the company for which he provided a business certificate. Ms. Hone said that, on numerous occasions, these discrepancies were brought to the attention of the Village Councilmembers, Village Attorney, Village Manager, and Village Clerk. An Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request revealed that there have been numerous communications between Village staff and Mr. Primavera, indicating that Village staff knew, since April of 2023, that this false information was provided by Mr. Primavera. Despite these discrepancies, this was never reported to legal authorities and the Village awarded Mr. Primavera a second contract under a different identity.

 

Ms. Hone wondered whether the first identity or second identity of Mr. Primavera was the true one. The OPRA request also revealed that, rather than correcting the first business document submitted by Mr. Primavera, in August 2023, Mr. Primavera established a new consulting firm using a different business name and different EIN. Ms. Hone said that the Village Council is now seeking to rescind Resolution #23-149 with the fake identity and replace it with Mr. Primavera’s new identity. She asked why the Village is “looking the other way” and not reporting Mr. Primavera to authorities for perjury and submission of false documents. Except for Councilmember Reynolds, who has spoken against hiring Mr. Primavera, the remaining Village Councilmembers could be potentially aiding Mr. Primavera in perpetuating a fraud and perjury.

 

Ms. Hone wondered why Mr. Primavera is being treated with “white gloves” and why the Village does not locate another historical consultant to hire, to assist with the Schedler property development. She wondered whether a favor was being repaid or if there is a hidden agenda, which the public does not know about. Ms. Hone said that the Village governing body can no longer continue covering up for Mr. Primavera. She urged the Village Councilmembers to distance themselves from Mr. Primavera, terminate their relationship with him, and report him to authorities. Ms. Hone said that she had also made OPRA requests for communications between the Chief Financial Officer, Village Clerk, and Mr. Primavera, but she was told that these documents could not be given to her due to attorney-client privilege. The only attorney involved in these email communications was Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney. She asked Mr. Rogers if he was acting as Mr. Primavera’s attorney and, if not, why she was not allowed to obtain copies of the requested documents, because of attorney-client privilege.

 

Rurik Halaby, 1 Franklin Avenue, said that he was pleased to see the topic of decorum during Village Council meetings on this evening’s agenda. He stated that he wrote a letter to the Ridgewood News five years ago and quoted a friend’s Facebook post that stated, “Civility, an ancient value rooted in classical philosophy, is about more than simple courtesy and good manners. In its broad classical sense, civility and decorum is about consciousness regarding how our actions affect the larger community.”

 

Mr. Halaby said that the rules for civility and decorum should apply to the Village Council, as well as to the public. He pointed out an instance a couple of weeks ago when Councilmember Reynolds stood up, started smiling and making faces, and shook her head, because she disagreed with something that Mayor Vagianos was saying. Mr. Halaby said that no one sitting on the dais said anything about this behavior. He felt that Councilmember Reynolds should apologize to Mayor Vagianos, the remaining Village Councilmembers, and Village residents for her rude behavior. He said that the rules for decorum should be applied fairly and equally “across the board.”  Mr. Halaby said that he was criticized for referring to certain speakers as blowhards. However, no one on the dais criticized another speaker for continuously referring to Mayor Vagianos as a liar. In addition, no one criticized another speaker for referring to a member of the community as a “gorilla.” He urged the Village Councilmembers to remember “what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”

 

Kristina Milian, 530 West Saddle River Road, said that at a recent Village Council meeting, Councilmember Reynolds was sitting on the sidelines in the courtroom wearing a mask. She did not understand Mr. Halaby’s comment about Councilmember Reynolds making faces at Mayor Vagianos, since her face was covered by the mask. Regarding apologies, Ms. Milian stated that there is a person is the room this evening who is owed an apology, and she was not referring to Mayor Vagianos.

 

Ms. Milian asked last week, during public comments, whether or not the Village Councilmembers plan to engage with Dr. Sara Evans regarding her position on the dangers of artificial turf. However, she has not received any response to this question to date. Ms. Milian said that Dr. Evans is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine and Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai. Ms. Milian said that it appears that Councilmember Winograd is “taking the lead” on all turf matters, since she is Council Liaison to the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board. Ms. Milian said that she found it disturbing that Councilmember Winograd is able to find time to consult with turf vendors, but not with medical experts such as Dr. Evans. She said that Mt. Sinai has no financial interest in the Village’s decision on artificial turf, as the turf vendors do.

 

Ms. Milian stated that the Village Council’s inaction seems to imply that the Village Councilmembers find Mt. Sinai’s insights on turf, data and science to be unreliable and not worthwhile. It also implies that the safety and health of Village athletes do not matter to the Village Councilmembers. Ms. Milian urged the Village Councilmembers to invite Dr. Evans to a Village Council meeting, so that there may be an educational public discussion about artificial turf, and to extend the same courtesies to her, as are extended to turf vendors. She said that such a discussion could yield valuable data regarding the eco-turf advocated by Councilmember Winograd. She stated that the Village Councilmembers should not be afraid of data that would help drive decisions.

 

Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, thanked Councilmember Reynolds and Keith Kazmark, Village Manager, for arranging to have the potholes on West Saddle River Road filled in recently. However, she stated that the road is still extremely bumpy, although slightly better than it was before. Ms. Ruane expressed the hope that West Saddle River Road will be repaved next summer.

 

There were no further public comments.

 

Mayor Vagianos responded to Paul Woodburn’s earlier comments this evening by stating that Councilmember Winograd has formed a “spearhead” group of 20 to 25 people, including State legislators, representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), representatives from the Ridgewood Board of Education, and Bergen County officials, to explore the flooding issues near Ridgewood High School and the footbridge. They met via Zoom the week before the flood occurred recently. Mayor Vagianos agreed with Mr. Woodburn that the footbridge turns into a “beaver’s dam” when there are heavy rains. The bridge gets clogged and the water overflows onto Stevens Field and the street. This area is owned and operated by the Board of Education, and it is up to them to decide what to do to alleviate the flooding problem. The Village Council has no authority over their decision-making.

 

Regarding the Christmas tree issue raised by Ms. Loving, Mayor Vagianos said that in over 15 years that he has been involved with the Christmas season in downtown Ridgewood, there has never been a tree cut down that was not already going to be taken down by the property owner. He said that Kevin Downes of Downes Tree Service personally makes sure that he finds the best tree that he can, which is already slated to be taken down.

 

Regarding the evergreen tree in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, Mayor Vagianos indicated that it was used as a Christmas tree when Keith Killion was Mayor of Ridgewood. After two years had passed, Mayor Vagianos said that very few people showed up for the Christmas tree celebration in the park. He said that many Village residents wondered why the tree was not erected by the train station. When this was brought to Mayor Killion’s attention, he asked for feedback from the public as to where they would like the Christmas tree to be located. The following week, Mayor Killion received more emails that he had ever received in the past from Village residents. These emails asked the Village to restore the tradition of having the Christmas tree near the train station, at the corner of East Ridgewood Avenue and Broad Street.

 

With regard to Ms. O’Keefe’s earlier comments, Mayor Vagianos agreed with her that “nice matters.”

 

Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney, stated that Ms. Hone asked a question earlier this evening about an OPRA request that she had made. She indicated that she was not allowed to get copies of the documents, due to attorney-client privilege. Mr. Rogers mentioned that the attorney-client privilege extends to expert consultants hired by the Village, including experts hired to assist with the development of the Schedler property. The information exchanged between Mr. Primavera, Village staff and Mr. Rogers, in terms of advice, falls under the purview of attorney-client privilege and remains confidential.

 

Councilmember Winograd asked for anyone who has contact information for Paul Woodburn to please let her know, so that she can provide him with the information she has obtained so far with regard to the footbridge by Stevens Field.

 

Referring to the comments made earlier by Ms. Milian, Deputy Mayor Perron said that she wanted to speak with Mr. Kazmark first before perhaps inviting Dr. Sara Evans to a Village Council meeting. Councilmember Reynolds stated that she thought it would be a great idea to have Dr. Evans speak before the Village Council. Mr. Kazmark said that he would speak with Deputy Mayor Perron and Councilmember Reynolds about possibly inviting Dr. Evans to a Village Council meeting, to speak about artificial turf. 

 

6.         VILLAGE MANAGER’S REPORT

 

Mr. Kazmark announced that most of his attention this past week has focused on the flood event that occurred on Friday, September 29, 2023. He said that precipitation began early Friday morning, just after midnight. Coordination of services and mobilization of teams was begun first thing Friday morning, with the new Board of Education Superintendent, Mark Schwarz; Office of Emergency Management (OEM); Police Department; Fire Department; Streets and Signal Divisions; Engineering Department; and Parks and Recreation Department, all of whom had made preliminary preparations before the storm arrived. Approximately 3.84 inches of rain fell in the Village, and Governor Murphy declared a State of Emergency on Friday afternoon, due to the severe weather.

 

Mr. Kazmark stated that less than five residential homes in the Village were impacted by the heavy rains. Emergency Services consistently patrolled all flood-prone areas to monitor residents impacted by flooding in their homes. However, no calls for service were made to either the Police or Fire Department during the flood event. He stated that two residential homes utilized the Village’s offer for supplemental trash collection on Monday, October 2. Mr. Kazmark thanked Sean Hamlin and his team for their assistance in this regard. The Village Manager’s Office reached out to affected homeowners, gleaning information from pictures posted on social media from residents affected by flooding.

 

One affected resident suggested that information be redistributed about emergency alerts. Mr. Kazmark said that he collaborated with Jeremy Kleinman, OEM Coordinator, to send out an E-notice to residents about emergency alerts, and this information was posted on social media as well. Attempts will also be made to mail or hand-deliver these emergency alert letters to residents who live in flood-prone areas of the Village. The letter contains information about how residents can register to receive emergency alert notifications, including the Village’s reverse 911 system, email notifications and text message notifications. The letter also includes links to water alerts, a free service provided by the United States Geological Survey, which provides instant alerts when water levels are nearing the flood stage. The letter also contains a link to access the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) system, a service provided by the National Weather Service, which gives real-time monitoring for river overflows.

 

Mr. Kazmark then explained how the Village pre-planned for the recent flood event. The Village Hall parking lot was cleared of all vehicles, in anticipation of flooding, and moved to higher ground. The Police, Fire and Emergency Management Departments, as well as the Streets Division, monitored flood-prone areas and blocked flooded roadways as necessary. The equipment and vehicles located at the Recycling Center were also moved to higher ground and the Recycling Center was closed to the public on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The Shred Day scheduled for this past weekend was postponed and rescheduled in the Graydon Pool parking lot for Sunday, October 15, 2023. Staff from the Board of Education and Parks Division removed equipment to secure Village parks and fields.

 

Mr. Kazmark showed a picture on the screen of the door dams placed around Village Hall, in case the water rose to that level. He thanked Christopher Rutishauser and staff of the Engineering Department for their assistance in this regard.

 

Mr. Kazmark pointed out that in 2022, the Village contracted with Downes Tree Service to de-snag, de-silt, and ensure bank stabilization along the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook. This project cost an estimated $438,000.00 and was partly funded through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, obtained by the Engineering Department. This work effort removed vegetation buildup of downed trees and brush from the brook, allowing for increased flow. All work was properly permitted through the NJDEP.

 

The major flood impacts were then described by Mr. Kazmark. He stated that the most affected areas were Maple Field and Veterans Field (owned by the Village) and Stevens Field and Stadium Field (owned by the Board of Education). Shown on the screen were pictures and videos taken by drones, operated by the Police Department, showed the extensive flooding of these areas, including the culvert that runs under East Ridgewood Avenue near Ridgewood High School and the footbridge.

 

Mr. Kazmark then explained the programming impacts due to the flooding. Many athletic programs organized by the Parks and Recreation Department and the Board of Education (BOE) were displaced after the storm. Nancy Bigos, Director of the Parks and Recreation Department, and Keith Cook, Ridgewood High School Athletic Director, and their staff worked all weekend to relocate programs, assess damage, and meet with turf repair firms to seek cost estimates for flood cleanup. Temporary fields were set up at local schools to accommodate youth programs this week. Village and BOE staff met on Monday, October 2, 2023, to finalize temporary scheduling and discuss a path forward. The Fields Committee met at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 to report on the progress being made regarding the flood damage and its impact on playing fields in the Village.

 

Mr. Kazmark announced that Veterans Field was fully opened for use on October 4, 2023. The Village received a quote from LandTek in the amount of $52,354.00 to repair and clean up Maple Field. Mr. Kazmark stated that, pending approval from Robert Rooney, Chief Financial Officer, there are funds available for this purpose, he would like to have this contract with LandTek authorized this evening, so that the cleanup may be performed as quickly as possible. The area behind the Lester Stable parking lot still needs to be cleaned by staff of the Parks and Recreation Department, once that area has completely dried up. Programs will be rescheduled until Maple Field can be reopened for use, and communication with program participants will continue, until all schedules return to normal. Mr. Kazmark thanked all Village staff for their hard work over the past week, following the flood event. He spoke about the devastating storm event which took place in 2021.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked about the Village possibly obtaining flood insurance to cover the costs of remediating flood damage on the turf fields in Ridgewood. Mr. Kazmark said that he will submit the LandTek quote to the Joint Insurance Fund (JIF), to see if these damages can be covered by insurance. He will report his findings to the Village Councilmembers at the next scheduled meeting. Councilmember Reynolds recalled that the BOE has such insurance to cover the turf fields owned by them. She asked Mr. Kazmark what needed to be done at Veterans Field in order to make the field playable again after the flood. Mr. Kazmark said that the field simply needed to dry out. Councilmember Reynolds remarked that if she still had young children who would be playing sports on this grass field, she would like to see the field tested for any contaminants that may have settled in that area after the flooding. Mr. Kazmark replied that the least impacted field during the storm was Veterans Field. He said that he asked Matthew Andreula, Parks Division Supervisor, whether or not Veterans Field needed any treatment after the flooding, and he was told that no treatment was needed.

 

Mayor Vagianos thanked Mr. Kazmark for his comprehensive and succinct report about the recent storm event. He also thanked all Village staff, particularly staff in the Parks and Recreation Department, and BOE staff, who worked tirelessly to restore the playing fields to playable condition after the flooding. Regarding the remediation of Maple Field, Mayor Vagianos said that he was in favor of doing this work as soon as possible, if the Village has available funds to do so. The remaining Village Councilmembers agreed with Mayor Vagianos. Mr. Kazmark remarked that he has worked in three other municipalities besides Ridgewood and that Ridgewood staff is “tremendously talented” and certainly know how to respond quickly and efficiently in an emergency.

 

Mr. Kazmark reported that he met via Zoom yesterday (October 3, 2023) with the Government Relations Representative, from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), to look into Councilmember Weitz’s inquiry regarding the conditions at the Park and Ride located on Route 17 South. A Jersey barrier was placed at the entrance to the Park and Ride, which blocks commuters from parking on the left side of the lot. They are planning infrastructure improvements on the Park and Ride, and have deemed portions of the left side of the lot to be unsafe. Mr. Kazmark explained to the NJDOE that by trying to improve safety on the left side of the lot, they basically created unsafe conditions on the right side of the lot, which has been refurbished. Commuters are creating parking spaces at the ends of drive aisles, in some fire zones along the curb line, and sometimes even on the grass.

 

Mr. Kazmark has requested that the Jersey barrier be relocated, so that only the truly unsafe areas on the left side of the lot are barricaded and the safe areas are made available for commuter parking. He expects to receive an answer to this request from the NJDOT next week. The NJDOT is planning to repave the left side of the lot, add curbs, and clearly delineate parking spaces. Adjacent neighbors have requested a larger buffer zone in certain areas, and Mr. Kazmark made this request of the NJDOT as well. Mr. Kazmark said that he also requested that aesthetic improvements be made to the pedestrian bridge over Route 17 that leads to the Park and Ride from the east side of the Village.

 

Mr. Kazmark announced that the Ridgewood Guild is holding its Oktoberfest on October 7 and October 8, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Access Weekend will be held this weekend as well. The Chamber of Commerce Farmer’s Market continues through October 29, 2023 on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Train Station parking lot on the west side. The next Council Chat is scheduled for October 7, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Village Hall Courtroom. The Shred Day has been rescheduled for October 15, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Graydon Pool parking lot. The Bergen County Suicide Prevention Walk Out of Darkness will be held on October 15, 2023 at the Saddle River County Park. Check-in time for this event is 9:00 a.m., and the walk will begin at 10:00 a.m.

 

Upcoming Village Council meetings are broadcast live from the Village Hall Courtroom, on the Village website, on FIOS Channel 34 and YouTube. The next Public Meetings are scheduled on October 11 and November 8, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. The next Village Council Work Sessions will be held on October 25, November 1, December 6 and December 13, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. There are only two Village Council meetings during the months of November and December. All meetings will have hybrid access (in person, Zoom or phone).

 

3.         VILLAGE COUNCIL REPORTS

 

Councilmember Winograd began by thanking the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board and Nancy Bigos and her staff for holding a wonderful event this past Thursday at the Lester Stable. Many children enjoyed listening to music during this event. She also thanked Mr. and Mrs. Halaby, along with the Conservancy, for their assistance in organizing this event.

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that a Ridgewood student, Henry Walsh, started a new club encouraging volunteerism in the Village. The members in this club have assisted with a number of projects in the Village, including inspection of the holiday kissing balls, planting saplings, and weeding in the Central Business District (CBD).  She also thanked Jack Nyhuis for his assistance in this regard.

 

There was a fairly lengthy Fields Committee meeting on Tuesday and discussions revolved around the flooding issues encountered recently. She thanked Keith Cook, Athletic Director at Ridgewood High School, and Nancy Bigos for their assistance during the recent flood. Councilmember Winograd said that the Village’s capital investment in the turf tank (an autonomous robotic field painter) has allowed the Parks and Recreation Department and other departments to operate more efficiently.

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that on October 5, 2023, from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., she and Councilmember Reynolds will be at the Lester Stable testing the holiday kissing balls to make sure they are operational. She said that, so far, about 25 people have volunteered to assist with this task.

 

From October 6 to October 8, 2023, Access Weekend will be held at the Ridgewood Library and Village Hall. There will be many activities, including a fashion show. On Sunday night at 7:00 p.m., there will also be a closing celebration at Friends to Friends Community Church on Prospect Street with Pastor Joanne Van Sant.

 

Councilmember Winograd announced that an in-person Elder Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the Old Paramus Church this year on November 12, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. She thanked Reverend Miller for organizing this event, as well as Stacey Antine of the HealthBarn who donates the food for this event. She expressed hope that the Village Councilmembers will volunteer to be servers at the dinner. Further details will be posted later this week on social media.

 

Councilmember Weitz thanked Mr. Kazmark for his advocacy regarding the issues at the Park and Ride on Route 17. However, Councilmember Weitz stated that he found the response by the NJDOT to be completely unacceptable. The problems caused by their closing off the commuter lot the week after Labor Day should not have been a surprise to the NJDOT. He agreed with Mr. Kazmark’s comments that the NJDOT’s attempts to safeguard the area have only created other problems at the Park and Ride. Councilmember Weitz asked Mr. Kazmark to escalate the matter up the chain of command (Senators and Congressmen), if the NJDOT does not get back to him by next week with definitive concrete plans to improve the lot. Mr. Kazmark remarked that Senator Kristin Corrado’s office is aware of this issue and the matter is flagged at the NJDOT Office. However, he stated that he has no problem contacting Don DeDio, Senator Corrado’s Chief of Staff, if the matter is not satisfactorily resolved.

 

Councilmember Weitz stated that he attended the Food Truck event held by the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) this past Sunday, which was a fundraiser raising money for pediatric cancer. He volunteered for a half-hour in the dunk tank, and he jokingly remarked about the “remarkable throwing accuracy” of Ridgewood residents.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that the Kasschau Shell is holding their final concert of the year this evening, when The Nerds will provide musical entertainment. The 65^th anniversary of Kasschau Shell was celebrated this year. Councilmember Reynolds said that it is never too late to donate to the Kasschau Shell, no matter how big or small the donation.

 

Project Pride had planned on removing the spring/summer flowers and planting fall flowers in the CBD this Saturday, October 7, 2023. However, a torrential rainstorm is predicted, so this has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 8, 2023, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Councilmember Reynolds said that it should only take about three hours to finish the planting. She will contact all volunteers to let them know of the new date and to ascertain their availability. In addition, the 14 palm trees planted in pots in the CBD during the warmer weather will need to be taken care of indoors over the winter. Councilmember Reynolds asked for volunteers to adopt these palm trees during the colder weather. The trees will be repotted in the spring in the CBD. Councilmember Reynolds said that they are looking for pots measuring approximately 12” to 16” in diameter, to repot the palm trees over the winter months. Volunteers are still needed, so interested individuals should contact Councilmember Reynolds at lreynolds@ridgewoodnj.net. Anyone who can adopt a palm tree over the winter or who can donate pots should also email Councilmember Reynolds.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron stated that New Jersey’s newly appointed Lieutenant Governor, Tahisha Way, will be speaking at the Old Paramus Church on October 10, 2023. This event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Tickets for this luncheon are $35.00 per person.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the Village is interviewing volunteers to serve on various Village boards and committees. She said that the knowledge and talents of Ridgewood residents, as well as their willingness to serve, is inspirational.

 

The Green Team has been working very hard to earn points towards the Village’s certification for Sustainable Jersey. They went from 140 points to 245 points, which Deputy Mayor Perron said was pretty amazing. The Village is still at the bronze level, but the goal is to obtain the silver certification.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron thanked the Parks, Recreation and Conservation (PRC) Board for all of their hard work. She said that she noted many people in attendance at the event held recently at the Stable, although she did not attend because she could not find a parking space. The PRC Board does many things to beautify the Village.

 

The Open Space Committee met on Thursday night and there was a lot of discussion about flooding. One of the members of the committee, who owns an insurance agency, stated that insurance carriers may not cover flooding in the future, as they have in the past. Deputy Mayor Perron asked Mr. Kazmark to bring up this issue with JIF the next time he speaks with them. Also discussed was the need to satisfy the diversion, because the Village is not eligible for certain grants while this diversion remains unsatisfied with the State. Deputy Mayor Perron said that, years ago, the Village sold off a small parcel of land that contained a playground on Broad Street, in order to accommodate the construction of affordable housing. The Village must now satisfy this diversion by constructing a new playground to replace the one that was removed. During the meeting, they also discussed updating the information for the Open Space Committee, once the new Village website is updated.

 

Green Ridgewood has scheduled another panel discussion regarding gas-powered leaf blowers on January 24, 2024. Deputy Mayor Perron expressed the hope that a representative from a manufacturer of battery-powered leaf blowers will be present at that discussion, along with a pediatrician. Tomorrow morning, Deputy Mayor Perron will be speaking before the AM Rotary Club in Ridgewood, at the YMCA at 7:30 a.m., regarding leaf blowers. The next meeting of Green Ridgewood will take place on October 5, 2023 at 7:30 a.m. in the Senior Lounge at Village Hall.

 

The next meeting of the Central Business District Advisory Committee (CBDAC) will be held via Zoom on October 12 at 8:30 a.m. Residents interested in attending should contact Deputy Mayor Perron, so that she can send them the link.

 

Mayor Vagianos thanked Deputy Mayor Perron for taking the lead in dealing with the issue of gas-powered leaf blowers in the Village.

 

4.         PRESENTATION

 

            A.        HUBQUARTER PILOT MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP

 

Mr. Kazmark introduced Sara Parra, Vice President of Social Impact at eFM North America. He and Councilmember Winograd attended a presentation given by Ms. Parra, on what Mr. Kazmark described as a “very intriguing” initiative for the CBD.

 

Ms. Parra stated that she has been a Social Worker for almost 20 years, and has lived on North Walnut Street for approximately seven years. She said that she is making a presentation this evening regarding HubQuarter, a new way for people to work and connect. She explained that eFM is a global company with over 20 years of experience in the fields of real estate, technology and human resources, working with universities, counties and municipalities. Its purpose is to improve people’s well-being in the workplace. Ms. Parra explained that HubQuarter is a social impact program that shares underutilized space in a way that generates value for remote workers, local businesses, and the greater community. This is advantageous for remote workers who are looking for an alternative place to work, other than at home. This program was developed in Italy, so that workers could appreciate certain elements of a workplace, such as professional development, idea sharing, and personal connection, while working remotely.

 

Ms. Parra said that research has shown that one thing people miss most while working remotely is the personal connection with co-workers and management. Any local business in the CBD that is equipped with Wi-Fi, has good accessibility and available space, would be eligible to host remote workers. These new workspaces could include a single desk at a coffee shop, a conference room for ten at a local bank branch or restaurant, or a communal work table at an art gallery. HubQuarter is enabled through a digital platform or an app called “Myspot,” which has been in existence for quite some time. Myspot was named Gartner Cool Vendor in 2018, and it is used internationally. Myspot enables local businesses to upload their “spots” and remote workers to find their “spots” by searching for a location, amenity or size. Remote workers book a spot to work and connect with others.

 

Ms. Parra explained that HubQuarter advances social connection between people, which leads to a healthier and more inclusive society. Ms. Parra showed a slide on the screen of the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community, addressing the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation following the Covid-19 pandemic. The advisory reported that nearly half of adults in the United States reported loneliness, including young people as well. Loneliness can adversely affect one’s mental and physical well-being. HubQuarter naturally implements strategies for municipalities, religious congregations and workplaces to increase opportunities for connection with a community, such as designing the built environment to promote connection, establishing programs that bring people together, and supporting pro-connection technologies.

 

Ms. Parra then spoke about some of the economic benefits of using HubQuarter. Using HubQuarter can stimulate the local economy by creating a more vibrant downtown area through increased regional tourism and local foot traffic. Revenue is generated for local businesses. HubQuarter can build resilience in local businesses by diversifying their service offerings and providing access to a new revenue stream, and it fosters an innovative approach to the use of space, creating an infrastructure for future workplaces. With 500 active HubQuarter members (either full-time or part-time) working just three days a month, at 80 spots throughout Ridgewood, over $500,000.00 worth of revenue could be generated annually. Ms. Parra stated that there are around 70,000 people employed in Ridgewood and the surrounding area, including 13,000 remote workers, based upon census data. Ms. Parra explained that the 80 spots are not all at separate locations.

 

Ms. Parra said that HubQuarter’s strategies are in line with the priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General and the sustainable development goals developed by the United Nations in 2015. She stated that if Ridgewood implemented a HubQuarter program, the Village could possibly be eligible for funding that it would not have been able to access in the past, since this is such an innovative program. Ms. Parra spoke about some of the key partners that collaborate with HubQuarter, including municipalities which provide the foundation, local businesses which host workers, corporations that enroll employees, remote workers who book spots and universities which research program impacts. Corporations will offer a HubQuarter membership to their employees, so that their employees can work flexibly. However, Ms. Parra said that HubQuarter is not strictly a membership-based program. She said that eFM will be working with corporations to promote memberships, and the corporations will enroll their employees. Village residents can reserve their spots on demand.

 

Ms. Parra then spoke about some excerpts from Ridgewood’s Master Plan. She feels that Ridgewood is a good place to pilot HubQuarter, because of the governing body’s desire to move the Village forward, respond to evolving needs of the community, use space in different ways, create a more vibrant downtown area, and maintain the character of the Village. Ms. Parra expressed the hope that the Village will be interested in implementing a six-month pilot program with HubQuarter. This will not require any financial commitment, but would require time and energy to ensure success. If the Village wanted to move forward with this, the next step would be for Ms. Parra to meet with a point person for the Village to review the municipal packet that they offer, which would be specifically tailored for Ridgewood. The Village would promote HubQuarter through a promotional week, events and website links, and provide relevant data, such as the percentage of remote workers, commuters and vacancies in the Village. There would be a meeting scheduled for local businesses which may be interested in participating in the pilot program.

 

Mr. Kazmark asked Ms. Parra if she was seeking a resolution from the Village Council endorsing this initiative. Ms. Parra said that an endorsement would be wonderful.

 

Councilmember Winograd thanked Ms. Parra for her presentation. She emphasized that there is a lot of underutilized space in the Village, such as the former taxicab stand on Broad Street, the Zabriskie-Schedler house, and the empty bank building. The more that these spaces are filled with nontraditional uses, the more likelihood that they will eventually be rented.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked if there are any towns surrounding Ridgewood which have done a HubQuarter program. Ms. Parra explained that this program has just been introduced to the U.S. market, having originated in Italy where their headquarters are located. It is currently being implemented in the Netherlands, and they have begun working with Montclair.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron asked Ms. Parra if she would make a presentation before CBDAC members, and Ms. Parra said that she would be happy to do so.

 

When questioned by Mayor Vagianos, Ms. Parra explained that the key partners would be the local businesses in Ridgewood, since they would be the host locations for remote workers. She feels that the Village Council and Village website could help connect HubQuarter with remote workers in Ridgewood. The Village Councilmembers know what Village residents need and that is why HubQuarter first made this presentation before the Village Council, instead of just simply setting up shop in the CBD. Mayor Vagianos asked with whom eFM would contract, and Ms. Parra replied that they would contract with the local businesses. He agreed that there are a lot of vacant spaces in Ridgewood, and restaurants are especially quiet between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.

 

Mayor Vagianos suggested that Ms. Parra contact the Chamber of Commerce and the Ridgewood Guild and make her presentation before these organizations. Ms. Parra replied that she would be happy to do so. She added that she has already met with Joan Groome and Karen Stires, Executive Directors of the Chamber of Commerce, but she has not yet met with anyone from the Ridgewood Guild. Mayor Vagianos offered to give her the contact information of someone at the Ridgewood Guild. When questioned by Mayor Vagianos, Ms. Parra replied that Ms. Groome felt positively about the program. Mayor Vagianos asked if Ms. Groome was going to introduce Ms. Parra to some local businesses in some way, and Ms. Parra replied that they have not yet had that conversation. Her initial contact with the Chamber of Commerce was just to obtain feedback about how the program would be received in Ridgewood. Mayor Vagianos asked how many host locations would be needed to implement the pilot program. Ms. Parra said that the number of host locations doesn’t really matter and that whatever “felt right” for Ridgewood would be satisfactory.

 

Councilmember Winograd added that not only remote workers would be able to utilize the services of HubQuarter, but also organizations seeking space such as Ridgewood Newcomers and 501(c)(3) organizations. She would like to see a resolution adopted by the Village Council endorsing this pilot program. Mayor Vagianos said that he did not feel this would be the first step to be taken and that he would like to investigate this matter further before taking any action. He would like to see a comprehensive list of the underutilized spaces that would be available in the Village, although it sounds like a great idea to him. Mayor Vagianos said that he wanted to also speak with Department Directors to get their feedback about the program, before any resolution is adopted.

 

Councilmember Weitz agreed with Mayor Vagianos and felt that this would be beneficial to the Village. He brought up issues of insurance liability, where a non-Village employee is working in Village-owned property, and issues regarding secure Wi-Fi networks. He encouraged Ms. Parra to have discussions with the Ridgewood Guild and with the Village Manager, in order to keep the conversation moving forward.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that she would like to include CBDAC in any discussions regarding HubQuarter and obtain their feedback. Mr. Kazmark recommended that he meet with Ms. Parra “offline” for a discussion about the Village component of this program, that Mayor Vagianos arrange for Ms. Parra to meet with Mr. Damiano from the Ridgewood Guild, and that Deputy Mayor Perron arrange for Ms. Parra to make a presentation before members of CBDAC. Mayor Vagianos agreed with this approach.

 

5.         DISCUSSION

 

A.             RIDGEWOOD WATER

 

1.         AWARD CONTRACT – PUBLIC POLICY CONSULTANT

 

Mr. Kazmark announced that items #2, 4 and 5 on the agenda this evening under “Discussion” for Ridgewood Water were removed from the agenda, since they were inadvertently duplicated from last week’s Village Council Work Session.

 

Rich Calbi, Director of Ridgewood Water, stated that this item deals with the awarding of a contract for professional services for public policy consulting. He mentioned that this will be the sixth year Ridgewood Water will be providing this service to the public. In July of 2018, the Village Council approved the first annual contract with Morford Drulis to provide public policy consulting for the Water Utility. Morford Drulis successfully performed these services over the past five years.

 

Mr. Calbi said that the successes achieved this year are particularly special. They were able to “move” legislation that directly affects the ability of Ridgewood Water to treat PFAS in the water. He said that creating public policy is complex, but important in terms of creating relationships with the public and building trust in the services provided by Ridgewood Water. The prior service year for the public policy consultant ran from September 15, 2022 to September 14, 2023 at a cost of $27,000.00, billed monthly. The proposed contract year from 2023-2024 will increase to $32,400.00. Mr. Calbi said that based upon the prior year’s achievements and goals that are proposed for the coming service year; he feels that this increased cost is warranted.

 

Michael Drulis of Morford Drulis indicated that the project to rid the drinking water of PFAS began with keeping abreast of rules and regulations promulgated by the State Legislature. He and his team have spent much time in Trenton speaking to policy leaders, exploring how legislation affects municipal utilities, particularly Ridgewood Water and its ratepayers, and researching any available grant monies from both the Federal and State governments. Mr. Drulis stated that Ridgewood is in the forefront of taking the necessary steps to get rid of PFAS contamination. He commended the Village Council for their efforts in furthering this goal and protecting the taxpayers from increased water rates. He said that the groundbreaking of the Ravine Treatment Plant was a “hallmark” moment and, through the efforts and support of Congressman Josh Gottheimer and Senator Menendez, Ridgewood Water was able to obtain a grant of $2.8 million to pay for PFAS mitigation.

 

Mr. Drulis then spoke about Green Acres diversions. He said that Ridgewood has significant Green Acres diversion requests, and applications can now be heard quickly, thanks to the efforts of his firm, through a more simplified process. Mr. Drulis also spoke about the Open House held recently by Ridgewood Water, as well as an upcoming Open House scheduled for January 2024. These Open Houses create good public relations with residents and educate the public about the various projects undertaken by Ridgewood Water. Mr. Drulis said that he has been working closely with Robert Rooney, Chief Financial Officer, to obtain loans from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (I-Bank) in a timely and efficient manner.

 

For 2023, Mr. Drulis stated that they will continue to give weekly updates on Statehouse and news activities, and will continue to deliver monthly reports that track public policy at local, County, State and Federal level agencies. He said that in 2022, his firm tracked 65 bills in the State Legislature that had a material impact on how they operate, and 12 bills were signed into law in 2022. In the spring of 2023, Mr. Drulis said that his firm was able to secure the necessary approvals to advertise for procurement before a time window closed, which would end up pushing the project out significantly and cause cost overruns. His firm will host monthly, in-person strategy meetings with Ridgewood Water and Village officials to develop action items and follow-up items to advance positive outcomes for ratepayers.

 

Councilmember Winograd asked how closely Mr. Drulis and Mr. Calbi are working with Ms. Mailander on the Green Acres diversion. Mr. Calbi said that the representatives from Green Acres had promised that some of the Green Acres money, frozen by the State, was going to be released sometime this fall. Councilmember Winograd said that she would like to see the diversion satisfied, so that the funds can be released and Ridgewood Water is not restricted in terms of obtaining monies to complete their various projects. Mr. Kazmark remarked that there is a meeting scheduled with him and Ms. Mailander to obtain an update from Green Acres about the diversion, and he stated that Councilmember Winograd is welcome to attend the meeting as well.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron remarked how much she has enjoyed working with Morford Drulis, and said that it is always an “eye-opening” experience with regard to what this firm does in Trenton. Mayor Vagianos echoed Deputy Mayor Perron’s comments and stated that Mr. Calbi relies heavily upon Morford Drulis to keep him abreast of legislative actions affecting the Water Utility. Mayor Vagianos said that he was in favor of renewing this contract with Morford Drulis for the 2023-2024 time period. Councilmember Reynolds thanked Mr. Drulis for everything his firm has done to help Ridgewood Water and their customers.

 

2.         AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a professional services contract for lead service line (LSL) replacement plan preparation. He stated that there have been many meetings between officials in towns serviced by Ridgewood Water (Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff). New Jersey is requiring the replacement of all lead service lines, which are either owned by the Water Utility or privately owned on residential properties. The legislation requires that all LSLs be identified and replaced by July 2031. Ridgewood Water has complied with the requirements of the legislation to date, but needs further assistance from a professional consultant for program development, which includes a detailed plan for implementing the replacement program, along with program support, data management and public outreach.

 

Mr. Calbi indicated that Ridgewood Water sought out and received formal proposals for the professional services on August 30, 2023. Four proposals were received, with prices ranging from a low of $197,736.00 to $419,000.00. The proposals were advertised publicly to solicit a fair and open process. Each proposal was evaluated and ranked against nine criteria. The top three ranking firms – Boswell Engineering, CDM Smith, and H2M Architects – were then interviewed to determine a final ranking. The firm of CDM Smith received the highest ranking, and it was determined that they have the most experience and are the most qualified for this project. It is recommended that the professional services contract be awarded to CDM Smith, Inc., of Edison, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $271,400.00. Funding is contained in the Ridgewood Water Capital Budget. Mr. Calbi explained that CDM Smith also handled the lead crisis experienced in Newark and are performing improvements with the Passaic Valley Water Commission (Passaic, Clifton and Paterson). He said that he was “overwhelmed” with their qualifications.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that the paperwork indicates a not to exceed sum of $268,800.00. Mr. Calbi explained that the original price from CDM Smith was lowered to $271,400.00. He explained the process by which minor refinements were made to their original price of $268,800.00.

 

3.         AUTHORIZE AGREEMENT – TEMPORARY USE OF PROPERTY – PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

 

Mr. Calbi explained that this item pertains to a request from the Bergen County Engineer to encroach on Ridgewood Water’s Russell Well property, located at 412 Russell Avenue in Wyckoff. The County has an emergent need, due to the poor condition of the existing pedestrian bridge structure and the inability to shift pedestrian traffic into the narrow pavement section at the Goffle Brook stream crossing.  Mr. Calbi is recommending that a temporary agreement be drafted, allowing the temporary encroachment onto Ridgewood Water property for the purposes of building a temporary pedestrian bridge. The temporary bridge will be eliminated in the future when the County replaces the Goffle Brook road crossing and widens the structure to accommodate vehicles and pedestrians, in accordance with today’s standards. Mr. Calbi explained that if this permanent structure encroaches on the property owned by Ridgewood Water, then he would recommend that a permanent easement agreement be executed.

 

Referring to Mr. Loving’s earlier comments, Mayor Vagianos asked Mr. Calbi if Bergen County has any temporary pedestrian bridges which the Village may be able to use to ease the inconvenience experienced by the closure of the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge. Mr. Calbi said that he will make an inquiry with the Bergen County Engineer. He mentioned that the two bridges are very different from each other, in terms of size and scope. He said that the bridge on Russell Avenue is flat and not arched, and has a shorter span than the Kingsbridge Lane Bridge. In addition, there is no Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance issues regarding the Russell Avenue Bridge, because it is flat.

 

            B.        BUDGET

 

1.         AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – REPLACEMENT OF UNDERGROUND FUEL STORAGE TANKS

 

Mr. Kazmark explained that this item pertains to the awarding of a professional services contract for replacement of underground fuel storage tanks. The Village’s underground fuel storage tanks are past their life expectancy of approximately 30 years, having been installed in 1987. Christopher Rutishauser, Village Engineer, is recommending that this professional engineering design services contract be awarded to MCK Engineering, PC, in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00. Funds are available under Ordinance No. 3854. Mr. Kazmark said that when he first met Mr. Rutishauser, soon after being hired for the position of Village Manager, Mr. Rutishauser stated that the replacement of these underground fuel storage tanks was one of his “top shelf” issues.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was confused by the memo from Mr. Rutishauser and wasn’t sure whether the contract included only the design of the replacement tanks or for design and inspection of the tanks. She spoke with Mr. Rutishauser and was told by him that MCK Engineering did not give a price for inspection. The sum of $15,000.00 is just for the design. MCK may come up with a price for inspection, or this may be done in-house. Deputy Mayor Perron also asked Mr. Rutishauser how much he estimated it would cost to actually remove the tanks and replace them, and he replied that it would cost between $700,000.00 and $900,000.00. Mr. Kazmark said that an inspection would require another contract with MCK Engineering.

 

2.         AWARD PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT – REPAIR OF PEDESTRIAN TUNNELS/RAMP AT RIDGEWOOD TRAIN STATION

 

Mr. Kazmark indicated that this item pertains to the awarding of a professional services contract for the repair of the pedestrian tunnels/ramp at the Ridgewood Train Station. He said that there is a corresponding resolution, which he will circulate, to the Village Councilmembers this evening. Connolly & Hickey, Historical Architects, submitted a proposal to provide professional architecture and engineering services to investigate the condition of the pedestrian tunnels and ramp in more detail, as well as to design the repairs to abate any further loss of material fabric, to make the necessary improvements for artwork, to develop contract documents for the repairs, to assist the Village in bidding the project, and to administer the contract during construction.

 

The basic services to be provided by Connolly & Hickey include the repair of the ceilings over the pedestrian ramp at the west side tunnel end, including any structural repairs and upgrades; repair the brick at the walls and stairs at the approach to the west side of the pedestrian ramp; address the water infiltration issues at the pedestrian ramp on the east side of the tunnel; address the efflorescence occurring on the concrete/masonry walls of the tunnel itself; and review the conditions at the station overall and make recommendations for other repairs and upgrades that are deemed necessary. It is recommended that this professional services contract be awarded to Connolly & Hickey in an amount not to exceed $53,800.00.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that she was in favor of this resolution, but that she has some questions she would like to ask Mr. Rutishauser. Mr. Kazmark indicated that he confirmed with Mr. Rooney that funding is available for this contract. Deputy Mayor Perron said she would like to move forward with the resolution and she will ask Mr. Rutishauser her questions at a later time. Mr. Kazmark said that if Deputy Mayor Perron wanted to email him the questions regarding this matter, he will forward them to Mr. Rutishauser and try to get answers from either Mr. Rutishauser or Connolly and Hickey, before the resolution is voted on next week. Deputy Mayor Perron said that she will do so. Councilmember Reynolds said that she would like to see the answers to the questions as well, and Mr. Kazmark said that he would share the answers with all of the Village Councilmembers. 

 

3.         AUTHORIZE BOND ORDINANCE – RESTORATION OF INTERIOR FAÇADE AT VILLAGE HALL

 

Mr. Kazmark explained that this item, as well as items #10 and #11 on the agenda, are all interconnected. He stated that there are some structural concerns regarding the interior façade on the third floor of Village Hall. Mr. Rutishauser has determined this to be an emergency situation, and an emergency appropriation is required. During a recent inspection, RSC Architects identified some structural concerns. As a result of the last renovation, drilling to support the current ceiling structure compromised some of the concrete façade. RSC Architects recommend removal of the loose pieces and securing connection sites to remediate any locations where cables supporting such ceilings may be at risk.

 

Mr. Kazmark pointed out the pictures and floor plan contained in Mr. Rutishauser’s memorandum. He would like to complete this work over the three-day Columbus Day holiday weekend, to avoid any disruption to Village Hall services. The contractor will be available. Mr. Rooney has requested an emergency appropriation bond ordinance in the sum of $110,000.00, which will allow the Village to establish the funding needed to engage RSC Architects to oversee the project and HQ Construction to perform the remediation. This resolution will be introduced next week, in order to accommodate these repairs. It is recommended that this contract be awarded to HQ Construction and Design, LLC, of East Brunswick, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $82,800.00. This is determined to be an Extraordinary Unspecifiable Expense.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked if any other contractors were solicited to make bids. Mr. Kazmark said that Mr. Rooney did the collection of estimates, and he recommended that the contract be awarded to HQ Construction. Mr. Kazmark said that these damages occurred before he began his role as Village Manager, but he stated that he would be happy to find out this information for Councilmember Reynolds. When questioned why the repairs were not made sooner, Mr. Kazmark said that he directed that the repairs be made as soon as possible, since he wants to avoid the risk of another accident occurring (a Village employee in the Engineering Department was injured when a portion of the plaster fell on them). Councilmember Reynolds said that she would like to see more timely action taken in the future, in the event this happens again. Mr. Rogers mentioned that three quotes had been received from contractors for this remediation.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron asked if the contractor was charging the Village a premium in order to complete the work quickly, over the Columbus Day weekend. Mr. Kazmark said that he thinks there was a premium placed on the work, but he wasn’t sure.

 

4.         AUTHORIZE GRANT APPLICATION – 2024 LOCAL AID GRANT – PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING LA-2024 LAIF RIDGEWOOD VILLAGE SRTS 2016

 

Mr. Kazmark explained that the next item pertains to the Safe Routes to School sidewalk replacement project. The Engineering Department has been advised by the NJDOT to make a Local Aid grant application for the preliminary design engineering services for the 2016 Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) project in the amount of $157,468.20. This work had previously been awarded to NV5, with the NJDOT promising to pay for it. This resolution is part of the process the Village has to go through to get the preliminary design work done by NV5 refunded to the Village. The Village has already made an application through the NJDOT SAGE portal for this reimbursement, but the NJDOT is also requiring a corresponding Village Council resolution authorizing the grant application.

 

5.         AMEND RESOLUTION NO. 23-279 – SPLIT AWARD OF CONTRACT

 

Mr. Kazmark indicated that this item pertains to an amendment to Resolution #23-279, in order to split the award of a contract for the purchase and installation of two radio consoles at Ridgewood Fire Headquarters and Engine 31 for the Ridgewood Fire Department. Due to a misunderstanding with the vendor, the contract was originally awarded to Goosetown Communications of Congers, New York, in the amount of $169,651.54. The sum of $150,715.54 (Avtec quote) was supposed to be awarded to Goosetown Communications. The remaining balance of $18,936.00 is to be awarded to Motorola Solutions, Inc., via Goosetown Communications. Funding is available in the 2022 Capital Account.

 

6.         AUTHORIZE PARTICIPATION – FEDERAL LESO 1033 PROGRAM

 

Mr. Kazmark explained that the Ridgewood Police Department is requesting to participate in the Federal Government’s surplus sharing LESO 1033 program. This program will allow the Ridgewood Police Department to acquire equipment from the Federal Government, once they no longer have a use for it. Numerous surrounding towns are currently using this program and have received excellent equipment. The equipment available varies greatly, including everything from heavy water rescue vehicles all the way down to patrol uniform equipment. Mr. Kazmark highly recommended that the Village Council consider this for the Police Department. When he worked for Woodland Park, they received two military-style heavy rescue trucks that were used in flood events. He feels that this type of equipment would be useful in Ridgewood, considering the frequent flooding that occurs in the Village.

 

 

7.         EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 

Mr. Kazmark stated that there is a memorandum from Dawn Cetrulo, Director of the Health Department. The Village has utilized West Bergen Mental Health (WBMH) for the Village’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for the past several years. Numerous complaints have been received from Village employees concerning a lack of responsiveness from WBMH and a delay in scheduling appointments, and these complaints have increased over the past few years. After doing a lot of research and speaking with colleagues, Ms. Cetrulo is recommending that the Village EAP be changed to Intervention Strategies International of Paramus, New Jersey. This organization provided a quote of $675.00 per month, for a total of $8,100.00 annually.  They offer 24 hour/365 day a year immediate access for emergency consultation. The Health Department has earmarked $5,000.00 from the Infrastructure Grant to put towards this EAP.

 

8.         CAMERA UPDATE FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

Mr. Kazmark stated that this matter deals with an update of cameras for the Police Department. Chief Forest Lyons has requested authorization to purchase equipment to update the Domestic Violence/Juvenile Interview Room Camera System. This update will incorporate the camera system into Axon, which will centralize and streamline their evidence. It is recommended that this contract be awarded to Axon Enterprises, Inc., of Scottsdale, Arizona, in an amount not to exceed $39,127.20. Funding is contained in the Police Department Capital Budget.

 

9.         RESCIND AND REPLACE RESOLUTION #23-149 – AWARD CONTRACT – CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION SPECIALIST

 

Mr. Kazmark explained that this item deals with the rescission and replacement of Resolution #23-149, pertaining to the award of contract to Peter Primavera, Cultural Resource Management and Historic Preservation Specialist, regarding the Schedler property. The contract is now to be awarded to Peter Primavera Partners, LLC, of Westfield, New Jersey, in an amount not to exceed $8,600.00. Scope of services will include due diligence to gather essential information on the Schedler property, including designations, restrictions, condition, permitting, and municipal plans; identify all regulatory approvals; analyze the National Register nomination and the process that was followed; identify opposition and support; and coordination with the project team. The only two changes between Resolution #23-149 and the new resolution is the vendor’s street address and name of the vendor.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked Mr. Rogers if Mr. Primavera formed a new company. Mr. Rogers replied that he spoke with Mr. Rooney about the proper name of Mr. Primavera’s company, after a question was raised by a Village resident. He said that a clerical error was made when Resolution #23-149 listed the name of the vendor as “Peter Primavera Partners” instead of Primavera Partners, LLC. This is what caused confusion with the improper Employer Identification Number (EIN). Mr. Rogers said that he did not believe this was a new company formed by Mr. Primavera. The EIN was always the same, but it did not match Peter Primavera Partners LLC with the State. Councilmember Reynolds asked if there was a procedure followed by the Village to vet a company or firm before they are hired. Mr. Rogers said that when a project is sent out for bid, one of the forms that needs to be filled out by a potential vendor is a Business Registration Certificate with the State of New Jersey. Mr. Kazmark said that the Village does not perform background checks on prospective vendors or professional service providers.

 

10.       RESOLUTION FOR EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION – INTERIOR FAÇADE AT VILLAGE HALL

 

See Item #B3 above.

 

11.       EXTRAORDINARY UNSPECIFIABLE SERVICE – LEVEL 3 CEILING SUBSTRATA FAILURES

 

See item #B3 above.

 

C.        POLICY

 

                        1.         RECOMMENDATIONS FROM ANNUAL REPORT – PLANNING                                          BOARD AND ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT

 

Mr. Kazmark indicated that John Barre, Village Planner, is waiting to speak this evening on a Zoom call, to address the recommendations from the Annual Report from the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) and Planning Board.

 

Mr. Barre said that there was a collaboration of many Village employees to develop the recommendations contained in the Annual Report submitted by the Zoning Board of Adjustment and Planning Board, including the Construction Code Official, Engineering Department staff, Zoning Officer, and members of the ZBA and Planning Board. These recommendations pertain to suggested amendments to the relevant ordinance, which Mr. Barre indicated were primarily technical in nature. These recommendations stem from some of the issues and problems which the ZBA has experienced over the last few years.

 

Mr. Barre said that there are ten proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 190, Land Use and Development, and Chapter 145, Enumeration of Fees). One recommendation seeks to clarify some of the language in the ordinance about how driveways are regulated in the Village, particularly how they are measured and how the regulations apply to smaller lots. Mr. Barre said that the ZBA has had challenges trying to interpret the width of driveways. They are seeking to restrict circular driveways on lots less than 100 feet wide, and they wish to clarify the language dealing with the expansion of driveways as they approach garage doors.

 

Mr. Barre asked Mayor Vagianos how much he should go into detail about the recommendations. Mayor Vagianos replied that all Village Councilmembers have previously reviewed the recommendations, and he asked if anyone had any questions. He said that he personally felt that the recommendations are constructive and straightforward.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron indicated that she has spoken with Matthew Rogers, Village Attorney, and they felt that it may be best to prohibit circular driveways altogether, except in the case of hardship or real safety issues, in which case a resident would need to make an application before the board. Mr. Rogers said that there may be exceptions made to the circular driveway prohibition, especially where there are safety concerns or topographical issues. He said that circular driveways are usually frowned upon, especially in front yards (aesthetics and dual curb cuts). Deputy Mayor Perron said that some of the concerns raised by members of the Planning Board had to do with increased impervious surfaces, the cutting down of more trees and shrubs to accommodate the circular driveway, and how many cars would be parked on the circular driveway in front of a house (which would affect the aesthetics of the streetscape).

 

Mr. Barre said that the language contained in the Code does not prohibit the construction of circular driveways in any way. The recommendation to prohibit circular driveways stems from the fact that, on a narrower lot, the driveway would take up most of the frontage of that lot. He said that there are currently limitations on impervious coverage contained in the ordinance, but this recommendation would deal specifically with the prohibition of circular driveways on narrower lots.

 

Mayor Vagianos wondered whether a complete ban of circular driveways would be appropriate, if a property owner had an adequately sized lot. Mr. Barre agreed with Mayor Vagianos, and stated that some larger properties in the Village could certainly construct a circular driveway and still fall within the impervious coverage limitations. He does not feel that an outright prohibition is necessary, except for narrower lots, which would result in excessive impervious coverage.

 

Councilmember Winograd asked if the circular driveway restriction has to do with total acreage of the property or just the front yard acreage. Mr. Rogers said that deciding impervious coverage would take into account a certain area in the front of a yard and also the total lot. The ZBA and Planning Board have faced issues over the years, because there are no specific guidelines regarding circular driveways. According to Bruce Whittaker, Board Attorney, what the board is concerned about are aesthetics, trees, and preventing a front yard full of cars. The recommendation by the ZBA is to restrict circular driveways to properties which have a front yard big enough to accommodate such a driveway, without exceeding impervious coverage limits and without making the property look unsightly. Mr. Rogers suggested “kicking back” the matter to the Planning Board, but Mr. Barre stated that the members of the Planning Board have already discussed this and it wouldn’t do much good to have them discuss it further.

 

After further discussion, Mayor Vagianos pointed out that the letter from Gregory S. Brown, Chairman of the ZBA, inquired as to whether or not there should be a minimum lot width required and/or a maximum driveway width for circular driveways. He said that he was not in favor of banning circular driveways completely, as suggested by Deputy Mayor Perron. He stated that if a property is big enough, then a front circular driveway could be an aesthetically pleasing look.

 

Mr. Barre pointed to item C (3) (c) of Section 1, Chapter 190, part of which states that “No residential property with less than 100 feet of lot frontage or a non-conforming front yard setback, shall be permitted to have to curb cuts (i.e., circular driveways) on the same street. Where circular driveways are permitted, the maximum width of the driveway shall not exceed 12 feet at any point within the front yard.” This is part of the language contained in the recommended amendment. Mayor Vagianos asked if this wording was satisfactory to both the Planning Board and the ZBA, and Mr. Barre replied that the plurality of the members did not voice any strong objections to this wording. He collaborated with the Zoning Officer, members of the Zoning Board, and Construction Code Official, and they were all comfortable with this language.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron added that Stephen Wellinghorst, Planning Board Attorney, was concerned that the proposed language was somewhat vague, which invites potential lawsuits. Councilmember Reynolds asked what portion of the amendment was considered vague. Deputy Mayor Perron was not sure, but she thought it was the language which read, “Where circular driveways are permitted…” since there are no other areas which state that circular driveways are permitted.

 

Mayor Vagianos wondered if the language could be “tightened up” to avoid any vagueness. Councilmember Winograd said that the use of the word “ban” regarding circular driveways is extremely clear. She said that the Village Councilmembers need to be mindful that they are talking about private property, but need to consider the streetscape, impervious coverage, and the impact on trees if a circular driveway were constructed. A discussion ensued regarding the procedures by which an application is made before the Planning Board and ZBA. Any Zoning Ordinance has to be reviewed by the Planning Board and they make recommendations to the Village Council. If there is a ban enacted against circular driveways, an applicant who wants to put an addition on his house, which will affect the configuration of the driveway, will have to make an application before the Zoning Board for a variance to permit a circular driveway. He was in agreement that any vagueness in the language should be eliminated.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron stated that the other four recommendations made by the ZBA in their 2021 Annual Report are less complicated, and the Village Councilmembers can probably agree on voting in favor of those four recommendations. She suggested dealing with these four recommendations this evening, so that the amendments may be adopted on October 11, 2023, and then deal with the circular driveway questions at a later date, after further review by the ZBA. There was general agreement in this regard.

 

Councilmember Winograd spoke about the recommendation that the Village require an “as built” survey at the completion of all building projects. She mentioned that the Tree Ordinance is being revised. With new construction and clearcutting of trees, with a promise by the property owners to replant more trees, she finds that the replanting never occurs, and there is no enforcement “on the back end.” She wondered if tree permits could be included in the “as built” survey requirement. Mr. Rogers said that the “as built” survey is for a completely different purpose, but that the planting of trees could certainly be included. The purpose of the survey is actually to show the Building Department what was actually built, so that they can compare the survey to what was approved in the resolution.

 

Councilmember Reynolds agreed that there is absolutely no “checking” that is done after construction to make sure the homeowner abided with the terms of the tree permit to plant more trees, after removing some trees on their property. Mr. Rogers said that both the ZBA and Planning Board have to make the replanting of trees, if trees are going to be cut down, as a condition of the approval of the application. Trees are not usually dealt with in the application process before either board.

 

Mayor Vagianos suggested looking at the more straightforward recommendations first, and then revisiting the matters of the circular driveways and including trees in the “as built” survey at a later time. The first recommendation in the 2022 Annual Report recommends that the Village increase both the Application Fee(s) and the Escrow Deposit(s) associated with Variance Applications to allow for a thorough review by Village Professionals before Applicants are scheduled for a public hearing. The completeness review and corresponding review by the Village Planner would allow the Applicant to address any deficiencies in the application before the public hearing, thereby saving the Applicant the time and costs associated with multiple hearings. All Village Councilmembers were in favor of this recommendation.

 

Mayor Vagianos stated that the second recommendation made in the 2022 Annual Report recommends that the Village consider the appointment of the same member to serve on both the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment, to facilitate mutual awareness between the boards. Deputy Mayor Perron felt that this could become very burdensome on that one person, since it would entail multiple meetings a month. Mayor Vagianos said that this seems like a good suggestion, as long as they could find someone who would be willing to serve in both roles. Deputy Mayor Perron recalled something in the statute that a Planning Board member cannot serve on two boards or committees. Mr. Rogers said that a member could serve on both boards, but a qualified member would need to be found. Mayor Vagianos said that he was fine with this language, with the wording “if possible” added to the amendment language. Mr. Kazmark remarked that this was a “shall” or “may” situation, meaning that someone “may” be appointed to serve on both land use boards. If no one can be found who is willing and able to do that, then the boards are not obligated to find someone to serve in these capacities. All Village Councilmembers were in favor of this suggestion.

 

Mayor Vagianos then turned his attention to the first recommendation from the 2021 Annual Report, which suggested that the Village Council’s temporary Resolution #21-285, regarding the extension of Variance approval from one year to two years, be adopted as permanent. The lack of availability of contractors and supply chain delays have resulted in residents being unable to obtain a permit within one year of approval, frustrating the residents that they must appear again before the board to get reapproved. Everyone was in agreement with this recommendation.

 

Mayor Vagianos said that the second recommendation contained in the 2021 Annual Report dealt with a suggestion that the Planning Board consider the allowable depth of a front porch with an amendment to the front yard setback. They have seen several applications seeking a variance for a front porch, along with applications for relief from the setback, in neighborhoods where the prevalent setback, or the streetscape character, is less than the allowable. Mr. Barre explained that there are instances where a house is built right up to the allowable setback line or a neighborhood development pattern where the houses are closer to the street than what the current setback allows. The purpose of the amendment is to allow for a five-foot encroachment beyond the existing structure, and exceptions can be made under certain circumstances. Mr. Barre said that the ZBA typically approves such applications. This amendment would avoid the necessity of homeowners getting a variance for encroachment on a setback.

 

Councilmember Reynolds wondered whether residents would ask for a variance from the five-foot allowable porch, if they wanted an eight-foot wide porch. Mr. Barre said that there will always be people who ask for more, but he stated that it has been the pattern of the ZBA to make people justify what they are looking for in their application. If a resident could successfully prove that a five-foot porch would not work for them, due to a mobility or circulation issue, then they make an application for a variance. However, he feels that allowing a five-foot porch, without the need for a variance, would generate less applications before the board, because applications for a five-foot porch are routinely granted. Mr. Barre feels that the board will be stricter, if a resident asks for more than a five-foot porch, and it will be a “tougher sell.” Everyone was in agreement with this recommendation.

 

Mayor Vagianos then reviewed the third recommendation contained in the 2021 Annual Report, which suggested that the Planning Board look at replacing the existing setback rules with a minimum/maximum calculation to neighboring properties. Mr. Barre explained that the current minimum setback is 40 feet; however, there are problems encountered with homes built 100 years ago, when there was a setback of 22 to 25 feet. He said that requiring a new home to be set back 40 feet would look out of character with the neighboring properties, which are only set back 25 feet. In such an instance, the “prevailing” setback in the neighborhood would apply, rather than the minimum setback of 40 feet. It is desired that any new construction “match” the streetscape character. This can be accomplished by establishing minimum and maximum setbacks, rather than applying a “one size fits all” approach. The burden of proof is on the applicant to show what the prevailing neighborhood “pattern” or setback is. Everyone was in agreement with this suggestion.

 

Mayor Vagianos said that the next recommendation contained in the 2021 Annual Report asked for clarification of when and how much a driveway can be widened leading up to a garage. The curb cuts are delineated in the Code, but there is no direction regarding where one can start to widen a driveway as one approaches a garage. Mr. Barre explained that with homes with front-facing garages, there has been some confusion about how to apply the ordinance when it comes to driveway widths. If there is a two-car garage, but the driveway is limited to a 12 foot width at the street, keeping the same width all the way to the garage would not allow two cars to be parked in the garage. Mr. Barre said that the proposed wording would allow the driveway to extend to the width of the garage. “Driveways shall be permitted to be the width of a permitted attached or detached garage within the front yard for a distance of up to 24 feet from the garage doors.” This would allow for ample space for two cars to enter or exit a two-car garage. Mayor Vagianos stated that he understands the need for this, since he himself has a single curb cut and a double garage. Everyone was in favor of this recommendation.

 

Mayor Vagianos said that the only outstanding items are recommendation #3 (“as built” survey) from the 2022 Annual Report and #4 (circular driveways) from the 2021 Annual Report. There were no objections to this recommendation, but Mayor Vagianos said that the issue to be determined is whether or not tree permits should be dealt with in the “as built” survey. Mayor Vagianos felt that the Village Councilmembers were not prepared this evening to address that issue, although he felt that it was an important issue. Councilmember Winograd agreed but stated that she wanted to bring up the matter, because the Shade Tree Commission encounters problems when a homeowner promises to replant a tree after taking one down, and there is no follow-up or enforcement to ensure compliance by the homeowner. She suggested that the Village Councilmembers approve the recommendation and deal with the tree issue at a later date. Mayor Vagianos agreed to move forward with the recommendations. He would like to see a proposal from the Shade Tree Commission, before making any decision on whether or not to include the tree permit requirements in the “as built” survey recommendation. Everyone was in agreement.

 

Regarding the circular driveway issue, Mayor Vagianos recommended that the matter be sent back to Stephen Wellinghorst for clarification of the language he considered vague. Mr. Rogers said that he could speak with Mr. Wellinghorst about the matter. He mentioned that Richard A. Joel, Jr., Chairman of the Planning Board, is in attendance at the meeting this evening and could speak on this point, but the ultimate decision rests with the Village Councilmembers.

 

Mr. Joel said that the Zoning Board would be fine with a decision from the Village Councilmembers if they decided they wanted to ban circular driveways altogether. He said that there are certainly properties in Ridgewood that are large enough to accommodate a circular driveway in the front of the property. The guidelines are vague regarding circular driveways in the ordinance, particularly with regard to minimum lot widths and/or maximum driveway widths. Mr. Joel spoke about impervious coverage and how a homeowner would need to make an application before the Board for a variance if too much asphalt was planned to be installed. The ZBA is very sensitive to water runoff in the Village, and a circular driveway, which is an impermeable surface, could add to flooding problems.

 

Deputy Mayor Perron said that homeowners may want a circular driveway and also be able to park their cars in the garage, which creates a lot of impervious surfaces. In addition, if smaller properties were not allowed to have circular driveways, but larger properties are allowed to have them, Deputy Mayor Perron does not feel that this would be equitable.

 

Councilmember Reynolds stated that the ZBA uses a percentage formula when determining whether or not a circular driveway would be allowed. Mr. Rogers said that he felt it would not be discriminatory. Councilmember Reynolds said that she can walk a one block radius around her house and see eight circular driveways that are aesthetically pleasing, with beautiful landscaping and trees. She would not want to see a ban on circular driveways, but felt that the language in the ordinance needed to be clearer and stated that there needs to be a minimum lot width for a circular driveway to be approved.

 

Mayor Vagianos said that he completely agreed with Councilmember Reynolds. He feels that a circular driveway adds to the streetscape, on an appropriately sized lot. He suggested that Mr. Rogers confer with Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Wellinghorst to come up with something that is appropriate. When asked for clarification, Mayor Vagianos said that the proposed wording states that no residential property with less than 100 feet of lot frontage shall be permitted to have two curb cuts on the same street. However, he said that this does not take into consideration the overall lot size and the percentage of that lot that can be taken up by that circular driveway.

 

Mr. Rogers said that the limits for impervious coverage covers that issue. He asked Mr. Barre if the ZBA ever considered extending the 100-foot limit to 125 feet, and Mr. Barre replied that they did not. He said that he could take an inventory of such properties and determine what percentage of properties that may entail, if this would be helpful for the Village Councilmembers.

 

Councilmember Weitz said that he does not support a complete ban on circular driveways. He agrees with Mayor Vagianos that the Village Councilmembers should move forward on approving all of the other recommendations and table the circular driveway recommendation. until such time as Mr. Rogers has had a chance to confer with Mr. Whittaker and Mr. Wellinghorst and the proposed language regarding same has been clarified. Mr. Rogers said that he would do so and report back at the next Village Council Work Session.

 

Mr. Joel stated that there is a restriction to impervious coverage (in R1 zones), which is within 140 feet of the front lot line. He said that even if a lot is 100 feet wide, the house may only be set back 40 feet, which would mean that the limits for impervious coverage would be exceeded. Mr. Joel thanked everyone who assisted in this endeavor. Mayor Vagianos thanked Mr. Joel and everyone for bringing the recommendations to the attention of the Village Council.

 

                        2.         MANNER OF ADDRESSING COUNCIL AND DECORUM

 

Mayor Vagianos asked if the Village Councilmembers would consent to having this matter carried to the next Village Council Work Session, as item #1. Councilmember Reynolds agreed, but stated that she would like to hear Mr. Rogers’ thoughts concerning the manner of addressing the Village Council and decorum in the courtroom. In this way, the Village Councilmembers could think about it over the coming week. Councilmember Weitz asked if a draft of the proposal could be furnished to the Village Councilmembers. Mr. Rogers said that he wouldn’t know where to begin in compiling a draft, since there are so many different opinions and ideas concerning same. For instance, as it now stands, the ordinance does not address how a boisterous resident should be handled.

 

Councilmember Reynolds asked if there were any similar ordinances drafted by other towns, which the Village Councilmembers could review. Mr. Kazmark said that he was going to recommend this as well. He said that he would do some research to see how other towns deal with the matter of decorum during municipal meetings. He mentioned that this is becoming a prominent topic for governing bodies throughout the State of New Jersey. He recalled two incidents that recently occurred amongst Councilmembers in the City of Paterson and with the spouse of a Councilmember in the City of Clifton, during a Council meeting. Councilmember Winograd mentioned that the rules of decorum should apply to the audience at a meeting as a whole, and not just the speaker at the podium. There ensued a discussion about amending the Articles of Government and updating the Code Book. There was also a discussion about updating the “Citizen’s Guide to Village Council Meetings,” once Ms. Mailander returns from vacation.

 

            D.        OPERATIONS

 

                        1.         2022 ANNUAL AUDIT

 

Mr. Kazmark stated that this item deals with the 2022 Annual Audit. Three audit comments were found, and a Corrective Action Plan was submitted by Mr. Rooney. He is absent from the meeting this evening, due to a family emergency. Mr. Kazmark remarked that the 2022 Annual Audit was a very “clean and satisfactory” audit.

 

7.         COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

 

Since it was past 11:00 p.m., Mayor Vagianos said that he would like to extend the meeting until 11:10 p.m.

 

Cynthia O’Keefe, 542 West Saddle River Road, said that with regard to the contract with Peter Primavera, she did a Google search on Mr. Primavera’s address at 552 Boulevard, Westfield, New Jersey, and discovered that this is an apartment listed on apartments.com that was rented in March. She wondered whether Mr. Primavera worked from home, since he does not appear to have a business office. She recalled that at an earlier Village Council meeting, Mr. Primavera had given an address on Duer Avenue in North Plainfield, which Ms. O’Keefe said appeared to be a ramshackle, rundown structure with broken windows. She said that she is concerned that the Village is relying upon Mr. Primavera to be an expert, taking into consideration the negative comments made about him by some residents. She is worried that it will not look good if the Village engages a vendor who operates out of an apartment, rather than an actual business office. Ms. O’Keefe said that she would expect someone claiming to have worked in this field for many years, and performed projects with various municipalities throughout the State of New Jersey, to work in a regular office rather than an apartment.

 

Boyd A. Loving, 342 South Irving Street, congratulated Councilmember Weitz for his stance regarding the Park and Ride issues on Route 17, and his insistence upon a definitive plan by the NJDOT to repair portions of the Park and Ride and provide a sufficient buffer for adjacent residents. Mr. Loving said that he took a ride through the Park and Ridge the other day, and noted that commuter parking is now “spilling out” onto the side streets in the area as well, in both Ho-Ho-Kus and Ridgewood. He added that some of these side streets have prohibited parking. Mr. Loving said that the NJDOT is not charging for parking in this lot, and this is the primary reason why so many commuters are now parking at the Park and Ride for free. He said the NJDOT is taking revenue away from the Village, and they are also not providing enough parking, because of the Jersey barriers they erected.

 

Mr. Loving indicated that he “listened in” on the Fields Committee meeting that took place on Tuesday. He stated that he was alarmed by some of the comments made during that meeting, and wrote to the Village Manager about the comments. There were many, many comments about keeping people “who don’t belong” off of the fields in the Village. He said that as a person of color, this really disturbs him. When the town officials in Mahwah tried to do this, a member of the Attorney General’s Office went to Mahwah and told them that they had no right to keep residents of Rockland County from using their fields. He said that Veterans Field, for example, is a public park to be used by any member of the public. At the Fields Committee meeting, Mr. Loving said that there was quite a bit of discussion about getting the police to keep people off the fields “who don’t belong.” Mr. Loving said that the police have more important things to do.

 

Mr. Loving said that he was somewhat disappointed in the notification process announcing that Village fields were closed. Councilmember Winograd posted about field closures on a Facebook page, which Mr. Loving described as restricted (private group). There was no notice of such on the Village website or email blast to residents indicating that the fields were closed. The Village Manager shared with him an email message from Nancy Bigos, but Mr. Loving said that this notice only went out to coaches and members of the athletic community. He said that the “people who pay taxes” need to know this information as well. He urged Village officials to let everyone know when the fields are going to be closed, not just coaches and members of the athletic community.

 

Anne Loving, 342 South Irving Street, said that if a contractor does not approach a homeowner and ask them if they want their tree taken down for free, then that tree may last a few more years. She thinks it is an exaggeration to say that every tree that is cut down for the Christmas tree is about to be removed by the property owner anyway. Ms. Loving thanked Mayor Vagianos for his kind replies to her inquiries, but stated that he did not mention anything about her suggestion to plant a live tree in the area by the train station, where the Christmas tree is usually erected. She said that the survey done a few years ago, which polled residents about whether or not they wanted the Christmas tree to be located in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, garnered significant support for having a live tree. She urged the Village Councilmembers to give this some consideration. Ms. Loving mentioned that a Village Councilmember contacted her in August of this year and said that they were not in favor of cutting down a tree every year. She stated that it takes years and years for a tree to grow.

 

Suzanne Ruane, 705 Kingsbridge Lane, thanked the Village Council for addressing the subject of decorum during Village Council meetings, particularly given the behavior of some residents during recent meetings. She learned that Mr. Rutishauser has declared some emergencies to repair the façade at Village Hall, cleanup of Maple Field, and the pedestrian tunnel at the Train Station. She asked why Mr. Rutishauser never declared the Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge as an emergency, especially after a second child was hit by a car while taking an alternative route, due to the closure of the footbridge.

 

Ms. Ruane also heard this evening that Village officials were going to ask Bergen County if they have any available pedestrian footbridges to use until the Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge can be repaired. She is concerned that even if there is a temporary footbridge available, it may be flat and may not be the right size. Ms. Ruane mentioned that this would be similar to the footbridge by the high school, where a “beaver dam” is created after heavy rains, with trees, brush and debris. She said that if such a flat bridge were installed near the Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge, the same “beaver dam effect” will occur and may possibly flood neighboring homes. Ms. Ruane stated that during Hurricane Ida, many of those homes were flooded, and one house was even condemned. The Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge was designed with an arched walkway for that very reason.

 

Jacquelyn Hone, 30 Carriage Lane, stated that she sent numerous emails to the Village Councilmembers, with supporting documentation, regarding her concerns about Mr. Primavera’s background and qualifications. She does not feel that this information is being addressed properly. She said that on the W-9 form, Peter Primavera provided an address of 534 Boulevard, in Westfield, New Jersey. The EIN number indicated was 24-4243556. An email from Olivia, with a copy to Robert Rooney, sent to Mr. Primavera read, “I’m trying to set you up as a vendor in our system. When I type in your business name and your EIN number you provided, it comes up as no match. See screen shot attached.” She said that the EIN number she just mentioned is not the same EIN number used when the Village awarded a second contract to Mr. Primavera.  Primavera Partners gave another address of 552 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey, not 534 Boulevard, with a completely different EIN number of 93-2041227.

 

Ms. Hone stated that Mr. Primavera was first hired by the Village in April 2023, and since that time has furnished three different identities, four different addresses, and two different EINs. She urged the Village Councilmembers to study the documents submitted to them by residents and take appropriate action.

 

There were no further public comments.

 

Addressing Ms. Hone regarding her comments about Mr. Primavera, Mr. Kazmark said that the only clarification he made this evening were the two differences between Resolution #23-149 and the new proposed resolution (change of business name and change of P.O. Box address to a street address). Addressing Mr. Loving’s comments regarding the Park and Ride, Mr. Kazmark said that he would appreciate it if Mr. Loving would send an email to the NJDOT delineating his findings and Councilmember Weitz’s concerns. Mr. Kazmark said that he would provide Mr. Loving with the email address of the new Government Relations Representative of the NJDOT.

 

Regarding the use of Village fields, Mr. Kazmark stated that all of the parks and recreational facilities owned by the Ridgewood are open and accessible to the public. This is supported by case law, especially since the Village has accepted monies from Green Acres. Even if Green Acres funds were not involved in park development in Ridgewood, every park and field is open to the public. Mr. Kazmark said that the discussion at the Fields Committee meeting had to do with field permitting, when the Village has the opportunity to control who is on a particular field. Children and adults are encouraged to engage in pickup games. The Police Department will not interfere with anyone using Village fields, unless such use interferes with a scheduled game, activity or practice.

 

Mr. Kazmark said that there is another issue which he has to talk to Mr. Rogers about. This deals with individuals or companies coming to Ridgewood and using Ridgewood facilities, without permission, for a profit. This raises liability issues and he is concerned that someone is profiting off of the use of municipal facilities, without any type of permission or issuance of any permit.

 

Regarding the field closure notification, Mr. Kazmark said that this was his error. He never worked for a municipality where the municipality sent out notices about park and field closures. In the future, any notices about field closures will be sent to all residents.

 

Councilmember Winograd stated that most of the comments recalled by Mr. Loving at the Fields Committee meeting had to do with the use of Village fields by for-profit companies. Other than that, she stated that everyone is welcome to use Village fields. Councilmember Winograd mentioned that there was an evergreen tree by her house which was dangerous and she was going to have it removed, but the tree contractor suggested that she donate it to Ridgewood for a Christmas tree. Regarding Ms. Ruane’s comments about the footbridge, Councilmember Winograd assured her that a temporary flat bridge that obstructs water flow will not be installed near the Kingsbridge Lane Footbridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.       ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Village Council, on a motion by Deputy Mayor Perron, seconded by Councilmember Reynolds, and carried unanimously by voice vote, the Village Council’s Regular Public Work Session was adjourned at 11:17 p.m.

 

 

 

                                                ____________________________________

                                                                                                Paul Vagianos

                                                                                                        Mayor

 

 

 

____________________________________

                         Eileen Young

                  Deputy Village Clerk